River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-10-27
VARIETY OF FOOD.
An Exclusive Corn Diet unfavorable to the
NItnIitv and Health of Hnes.


An Exclusive Corn Diet Unfavorable to the
Vitality and Health of Hogs.
That raw corn fed out on the ear is the
cheapest material that can be used for
making pork in the Western States APP
pears to be demonstrated beyond a
doubt. Several farmers in Central
Illinois have reported that they are able
to make a pound of pork from ten
pounds OF corn, or six pounds from
every bushel fed to their hogs. If they
raise 20 bushels of corn on an acre OF
land they obtain APO pounds of pork,
worth at ) cents per pound 81. This
is more than can be realized for any
kind of small grain. The fertility OF
the soil is soon exhausted when success
sive crops of small grain are raised on it.
Such is not the case, however, if corn
is raised, fed to hogs on the place, and
the manure they make applied TO the
land. A crop of corn can be raised and
harvested without the necessity of pay.
ing out much money. The seed cost
but trifle, and there is no bill for the
use of n harvester or q thrashing-
machine. A corn crop can be produced
by the use of the labor and implements
that almost every farmer has Pork
can be sent to market much cheaper
than small grain.
A prairie farm chiefly devoted to
raising corn and feeding it TO hogs is
very cheaply fitted up, stocked and
managed. 1t costs but little to make
shelter for hogs that will keep them
dry and warm. A fair crop Of corn can
be raised on new breaking. Old ground
intended for producing corn can be
plowed in the fall or the following
spring. Almost any kind of manure
is beneficial to corn crop. The plant
ing of corn can be delayed much longer
than the sowing of small grains. The
work of cultivation can be performed
by variety of implements. Hands
that are less slillful than those required
to raise many crops can plant, cultivate
and harvest corn. But few fences are
required on farm devoted to raising
corn and feeding hogs. Hogs multiply
so rapidly and mature So quickly ,hat
it does not take long time to stock a
farm with them or to realize money
from them. In these respects they
possess great advantages over cattle and
horses. A farmer who has but small
means can not engage in most kinds OF
stock-raising. But he can raise hogs by
producing the corn for feeding TO them.
Still it has become obvious that rails
hogs on diet of corn has been pro-
ductive of unfayorable results. An
exclusive corn diet does not produce
the requisite proportions of bone and
muscle in animals. 1t contains too
much carbon and not enough nitrogen.
Breeding-sows that eat little or nothing
except corn are poor mothers. They
generally produce small litters of pigs,
and they give but little railk. Pigs
brought mp on corn alone appear to
have little vitality. They are not as
lively as those that enjoy the privileges
of a free range and eat variety OF
food. They appear to be more likely
to contract disease. The hog has be.
come more delicate since il was kept in
pens and has lad corn brought to his
trough. During the past few years
diseases have been more common and
more generally fatal among hogs than
among horses, cattle, or sheep On
this account many farmers have
abondened pork-raising or Feep only
enough hogs to supply their household.
with meat. They do not dare take the
risks that attend keeping large numbers
of hogs and feeding them the corn they
raise.
The most successful hog-raisers now
advocate the substitution of other
grains, fruits and vegetables for hall
the corn they formerly fed, and they
rely chiefly on corn for making fat, but
they give their hogs bran, shorts,
ground rye. oats and barley. boiled
potatoes, roots. apples and pumpkins
or squsahcs. They find the health and
general condition of their hogs better
when they are allowed change of food.
They are better breeders, and the sows
give more milk. The pork produced Is
not as fat as that made from corn, but
it is generally preferred. There is les,
leaf-lard, but more meat that is suitable
for making bacon. The hogs are more
active and take more exercise. For this
reason their circulation and digestion
are better. If they do not mature rs
quickly, the risks of keeping them are
less. 1t is admitted that the cost of feed.
ing them is somewhat greater, as it cost:
considerable TO grind the small grains,
and to cook the potatoes and other
vegetables A more diversified system
of farming is required if many hogs arc
kept on place, and corn only fur.
nisbes half the food that is given
them.
IL is obvious that some substitute for
corn must be found in many portions
of the country that are now being
settled up. Much of the territory adapted
to the profitable production of corn j..
already in the hands of individuals who
have improved it. What is known as
the corn belt is somewhat narrow.
and it does not reach nearly across the
continent. lHttt are tAbcuStNt ItEloNe
in the district north and west that are
we'll adapted to various kinds of prod
ucts, but in which little or no corn
can be raised. The farmers who make
homes in these regions win find ii
difficult to get along without raising
hogs. They will at first miss corn, but
they will at length discover that they
can make tho production of pork
profitable without it. They will follow
the example of farmers in Canada,
Great Britain and Germany, who make
pork by raising rye, barley, oats, pota-
toes, and roots and feeding them to
hogs. Should a general drought con.
tinue many more years in portions OF
the "corn belt, the farmers who live
in il will be obliged to give up keep.
ing hogs on an extensive scale or t.
find kind of food for them different
from what they have been accustomed
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